Hollow Knight: Silksongwas announced in February 2019, exciting fans of the original indie metroidvania. An expansion starring a new playable character was one stretch goal reached byHollow Knight’s Kickstarter campaign, but this DLC became “too large and too unique” according to Team Cherry. Thus, the standalone sequelHollow Knight: Silksongwas born, and fans got a few early glimpses of the game at events like E3 2019’s Nintendo Treehouse Live.
That news petered out as Team Cherry, a small South Australian team, dug in its heels to work while the world dealt with the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Original Kickstarter backers were promised free copies ofSilksonggiven its origins as a crowdfunding bonus, butHollow Knight’s fifth anniversary passed and there was no sign of its successor. Then news thatSilksongwould be a day-one Xbox Game Pass launch dropped during the2022 Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase. As exciting as it was to see the game appear, it’s a shame that little has followed.
RELATED:Hollow Knight’s 5th Anniversary Is a Momentous Occasion, Even Without Silksong
Why Silksong’s Day-One Xbox Game Pass Release is a Big Deal
The factHollow Knight: Silksongappeared as part of an Xbox event at all was a surprise to many. The game is often associated with Nintendo, despiteHollow Knightfirst releasing on PC in February 2017 before its Switch port came out in June 2018.Hollow Knightdid not come to Xbox One or Game Pass until September 2018, which seemingly led people to assume the sequel would follow suit with a later launch on Microsoft platforms. Tying earlySilksongfootage to Nintendo’s E3 coverage led to years of every Indie World Showcase receiving comments about Team Cherry.
That’s a main reason whySilksongre-emerging at this year’s Xbox and Bethesda event for Summer Games Fest made such an impact. On top of the confirmation it would be a day-one release for Game Pass, fans also got new footage showcasingHornet’s abilities inHollow Knight: Silksong. Another part of the presentation that got fans excited was the implied timeline for every included title. Xbox Live programming director Larry Hryb, better known as “Major Nelson,” summed things up in an Xbox Wire post on June 12 saying, “Everything in today’s Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase is targeted to launch in the next 12 months.”
RELATED:How Hollow Knight: Silksong Could Improve Nail Arts
Hollow Knight: Silksong Should Stay in the Spotlight
Keeping with the vague verbiage of these games “targeting” a release within a year makes sense. While some titles likeAs Dusk Fallswere far in development and had release dates set, major releases such asBethesda’sStarfieldwere previously delayedfrom November 2022 to early 2023.Hollow Knight: Silksonghas wiggle room if need be, but being included in the showcase suggested Team Cherry was intending to ramp up its marketing presence.
Yet, June 12 was the last time fans heard fromSilksongin any official capacity. With summer 2022 almost over, this seems like a missed opportunity - no doubt audiences on vacation or out of school for the season would have been eager to learn more. The reception to standaloneevents showcasing games likePokemon ScarletandVioletorSplatoon 3over the last few weeks are a testament to that, even with the scales tipped by these games having Nintendo’s full weight behind them.
While nobody is looking for Team Cherry to rush, it would behoove the company to keep its momentum up if the studio intends to releaseSilksongwithin the next 10 months or so.Gamescom Opening Night Liveseems like the next prime target for news, with the August 23 event being hosted by Keighley. If not, The Game Awards in December could be perfect providedSilksonghas a 2023 release date to announce. If the Xbox and Bethesda Showcase taught fans anything, it’s that Team Cherry could rear its head at any time, so it will be worth keeping an eye out.
Hollow Knight: Silksongis in development for PC, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
